Fancy Rum Balls with Rum Extract

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Looking for a no-bake treat that’s perfect for holiday parties or cookie exchanges? We’ve all been there – trying to juggle multiple baking projects while keeping up with our everyday responsibilities. That’s exactly why I love these rum balls with rum extract. They’re a crowd-pleasing dessert you can whip up without ever turning on the oven, and they actually taste better when made a few days ahead. Plus, since they use rum extract instead of actual rum, they’re family-friendly while still having that classic rum ball flavor everyone loves.

Which Kind of Vanilla Wafers Should I Use?

While Nilla Wafers are the classic choice for rum balls, you’ve got some flexibility here. The original Nabisco Nilla Wafers work great because they have just the right balance of vanilla flavor and crisp texture that breaks down well into crumbs. Store brands can work too – just make sure they’re fresh and crispy, as stale cookies can affect the final taste. If you can’t find Nilla Wafers, you can substitute with other plain vanilla cookies or even graham crackers, though this will give your rum balls a slightly different texture and flavor. Just be sure to grind them into really fine crumbs for the best results – any chunky bits will make your rum balls harder to roll into smooth balls.

Options for Substitutions

Need to make some swaps? Here are some helpful substitutions for this no-bake treat:

• Nilla Wafers: No Nilla Wafers? You can use graham crackers, vanilla sandwich cookies (filling removed), or even plain vanilla cookies. Just make sure to grind them into fine crumbs.
• Walnuts: Walnuts can be replaced with pecans, almonds, or even hazelnuts. If you need to avoid nuts altogether, try using extra cookie crumbs or some shredded coconut instead.
• Rum extract: If you’re out of rum extract, try vanilla extract plus a tiny drop of almond extract to mimic that warm flavor. You could also use bourbon extract or brandy extract.
• Icing sugar: This is pretty important for the texture, but if you’re in a pinch, you can make your own by blending regular granulated sugar in a food processor until very fine.
• Butter: While butter gives the best flavor, you can use margarine or coconut oil (solid at room temperature) as alternatives. Just keep in mind the flavor might change slightly.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The texture of your rum balls can quickly go wrong if you don’t grind the Nilla Wafers and walnuts finely enough – aim for a sandy consistency rather than chunky pieces to ensure the balls hold together properly. Adding too much water at once is another common mistake that can make your mixture too sticky to roll – instead, add water gradually, one tablespoon at a time, until the mixture just comes together. When rolling the balls, your hands can get messy and sticky, so keep them lightly dusted with icing sugar and work quickly while the mixture is still cool (warm hands will make the butter too soft). For the best flavor development, these treats need time to rest – store them in an airtight container in the fridge for at least 24 hours before serving, which allows the rum extract to properly distribute throughout the mixture.

What to Serve With Rum Balls?

These sweet little rum balls are perfect for serving alongside a hot cup of coffee or tea during the holiday season! Since they’re quite rich and sweet, I like to include them as part of a larger cookie platter with a mix of other treats like shortbread cookies, gingerbread, or chocolate chip cookies for variety. If you’re hosting a party, try setting up a dessert coffee bar with these rum balls, some whipped cream for the coffee, and maybe even some chocolate-covered espresso beans for an extra special touch. They also pair really nicely with hot cocoa if you’re looking for an extra cozy winter treat.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These rum balls taste even better after they’ve had time to mellow! Place them in an airtight container, with wax paper or parchment paper between layers, and keep them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The flavors will actually develop more over the first few days.

Freeze: Want to make these ahead for the holidays? These treats freeze really well for up to 3 months. Just place them in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers. They’re perfect for making ahead when you know you’ll be busy during the holiday season!

Serve: When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen rum balls, just transfer them to the fridge overnight to thaw. Before serving, you might want to give them a fresh roll in some powdered sugar to make them look extra pretty. They taste best when served slightly chilled from the fridge.

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	0-5 minutes
Total Time	15-65 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 600-700
• Protein: 5-10 g
• Fat: 30-40 g
• Carbohydrates: 90-100 g

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups icing sugar, plus additional for rolling
• 1 cup finely ground nilla wafer crumbs (around 1 1/2 cups cookies processed)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts (from about 3/4 cup walnut pieces blended to crumbs)
• 6 tablespoons softened butter
• 2 to 3 tablespoons water
• 1/2 teaspoon rum flavoring

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, cookie crumbs, walnuts, butter, 2 tablespoons of water, and extract of your choice.

Use a mixer to blend these ingredients until a stiff dough forms.

If the dough is not coming together, gradually add another tablespoon of water as needed to achieve the desired consistency.

Step 2: Form and Coat the Balls

Using scant tablespoons of dough, roll the mixture in your hands to form ball shapes.

Once shaped, roll each ball in powdered sugar to evenly coat the exterior.

This will add sweetness and a pleasing texture to the rum balls.

Step 3: Chill for Firmer Rum Balls (Optional)

If you prefer the rum balls to be firmer, place them in the fridge for about an hour.

This chilling step allows the butter in the mixture to harden, giving the rum balls a firmer texture.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

Once the rum balls are prepared and chilled to your preference, serve them as a delightful treat.

They’re ready to be enjoyed straight from the fridge or at room temperature as a satisfying snack or dessert.